SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Japan and Paraguay fans gather for round of 16 match

Record ID: 452153

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Japan and Paraguay fans gather for round of 16 match
  • Date: 30th June 2010
  • Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 29, 2010) (REUTERS) SECURITY OUTSIDE STADIUM SIGN FOR TSHWANE/PRETORIA PEOPLE ARRIVING VARIOUS OF JAPAN FANS ARRIVING JAPAN FANS BLOWING VUVUZELAS JAPAN FANS HOLDING FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN FAN, MINEKO YOSHIMURA, SAYING: "We hear Paraguay is a good team, but we've also heard that it's not impossible to beat them... so we want Japan to do their best." JAPAN FANS SINGING JAPAN FAN HOLDING SWORD JAPAN FAN WEARING TRADITIONAL SANDALS JAPAN FANS WEARING KIMONOS JAPAN FAN WEARING SOCCER UNIFORM VARIOUS OF JAPAN FANS SINGING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN FAN, SHUHEI HARADA, SAYING: "I am just so satisfied at our victory against the Denmark and Cameroon games. Today, if we win or lose it doesn't matter; I just hope it will be an enjoyable match." FAN WAVING PARAGUAY FAN PARAGUAY FAN SAYING: "THERE IS NO DOUBT, VICTORY FOR PARAGUAY!" PARAGUAYAN FAN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARAGUAY FAN, DIEGO FEDERICO SILVA, SAYING: "Paraguay will win 3-0 without a problem, there is not doubt. This is a team that in no way will lose today." VARIOUS SOUTH AFRICAN FANS ARRIVING AT STADIUM SOUTH AFRICAN FANS CHEERING FOR JAPAN
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABN7NW52QG7WW85ZAHZ26VYJSY
  • Story Text: Soccer fans began arriving in Pretoria, South Africa on Tuesday (June 29) as Asia's last survivors Japan face Paraguay for a place in the quarter-finals against either Spain or Portugal on Saturday (July 3).
    "We hear Paraguay is a good team, but we also think that it is not impossible to beat them, so we want Japan to do their best," said Japan fan, Mineko Yoshiura.
    Japan, a vastly improved team compared to their form in the qualification campaign, will want to turn on more of their recent free flowing style and set-piece quality to beat Paraguay -- one of the less convincing Latin American sides.
    "I am just so satisfied at our victory against the Denmark and Cameroon games. Today, if we win or lose it doesn't matter; I just hope it will be an enjoyable match," said Shuhei Harada.
    But they will have to overcome a powerful jinx -- no Asian team has ever beaten a South American side in the World Cup.
    "Paraguay will win 3-0 without a problem, there is not doubt. This is a team that in no way will lose today," said confident Paraguay fan, Diego Federico Silva.
    Paraguay, bidding to join Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in the last eight, still have to show the bite expected of their top class attacking trio of Roque Santa Cruz, Lucas Barrios and Nelson Valdez.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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